Saturday, March 31, 2007

An Angel in St. Peter's Basilica?

Andy and Susan Kay were celebrating Andy's retirement as a policeman constable at the Vatican when they took this picture of the beautiful sunlight that was raining into St. Peter's Basilica. When they arrived back to England, they downloaded the digital pics from their Kodak camera and for the first time were in amazement at seeing what seems to be an apparition or an angel hovering above the crowd inside St. Peter's Basilica. Neither Any nor Susan Kay are particularly religious and were vacationing as tourists in the Vatican.
"Several people have looked at it including a professional photographer and they can't work out what it might be - maybe it is a guardian angel."
To read the news article click here or here. To learn more about angels click here. To learn more about guardian angels click here.
Friday, March 23, 2007

Idem Velle Idem Nolle

That is Latin for "same desires, same dislikes", which is an old Roman definition of friendship.
Pope Benedict XVI's latest apostolic letter, Sacramentum Caritatis (Sacrament of Charity), can be summarized as a love letter to Christ as the National Catholic Register (NCR) would describe it.
In this apostolic exhortation, Pope Benedict XVI waxes poetic on the love and devotion that can be focused when in adoration of the Eucharist. This can be expressed profoundly in benediction, mental prayer, and homilies to mention a few.
Jesus defines friendship as a communion of wills, hence the use of the old Roman definition, idem velle idem nolle. To be in closer friendship to Jesus, we need to practice correctly the many ways we have at our disposal to express this love of friendship. Thusly, Sacramentum Caritatis assists all those in reaching these goals of ever closer union with Christ!
As the NCR succinctly puts it, "the document is exactly what our front-page headline declares it to be: a love letter to Christ, his friend and ours, the center of the Mass, and our life."
To read the NCR's article on Sacramentum Caritatis click here.
To read Sacramentum Caritatis in its entirety click here.
Thursday, March 22, 2007

Catholic Convert Aimee Milburn

I like conversion stories so every once in a while I do post on them. Here is one by Aimee Milburn. She came over from Protestantism with all the baggage of stereotypes about Catholics. She was able to overcome them with studiousness and an open heart. For her story click here. To learn a little more, her short bio is in my opinion, a better synopsis of her faith. For that story click here. My favorite quip from her, "My personal motto: I spend my money on books, and with what's left over I buy food and clothing." I may make that my own motto! (Hat Tip: Catholic Report)
Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Liberation Theology

Easter Sunday, The Vatican, April 6, 1980, 9:00 pm at St. Peter's Square:
A group of young pilgrims were singing songs and chanting; requesting the presence of Pope John Paul II. To their surprise they were led to the St. Damaso Courtyard inside the Vatican through the gates by the Vatican Gendarmes.
Inside the St. Damaso Courtyard these young pilgrims lingered for a few minutes when to their surprise Pope John Paul II came into their presence and began a lively dialogue. When a young pilgrim of 19 years of age by the name of Tim asked his Holiness about his thoughts on the Sacrament of Penance.
His Holiness responded:
The Sacrament of Penance is the sacrament par excellence! When our Lord and Savior died on the cross he died for OUR sins. When we confess our sins to God we are cleansing ourselves in order to be reconciled to God. At admitting our sins and following the absolution of those sins to our confessor, we are reconciled to God. THAT IS LIBERATION THEOLOGY!
Tim, The Work, Mornings of Recollection for Men at Holy Cross Chapel in the basement, March 17, A.D. 2007, 10:00 am, in Houston, Texas. (To learn more about Mornings of Recollection for Men by The Work by laymen click here.)
Monday, March 19, 2007

Homosexuality is Immoral

With General Pace in hot water for exercising his free speech rights and Senator Hillary Clinton dodging the homosexual, or in PC parlance, gay is immoral question, I thought it a good idea to review why homosexuality is immoral, biblically speaking of course. Got this from the WebElf Report via (of all things) the Free Republic.

The Bible clearly teaches that homosexual practices are wrong, says an exegete from the John Paul II Institute in Rome. Father Jean-Baptiste Edart, is co-author of "Clarifications sur l'Homosexualité dans la Bible" (Clarifications on Homosexuality in the Bible), published by Editions du Cerf. ZENIT interviewed the authors in February. In this follow-up interview, Father Edart of the Emmanuel Community, discusses more in-depth the biblical teachings on homosexuality. Part 2 of this interview will appear Friday. Q: What are the references to homosexuality in the Bible? Father Edart: This subject is given very little coverage in the Bible. This is linked to the absence of the visibility of this phenomenon, and that is a logical consequence of the prohibition of this behavior. The biblical texts which address the question of homosexuality directly or indirectly are: In the Old Testament Genesis 19:7-8: "I beg you, my brothers, not to do this wicked thing. I have two daughters who have never had intercourse with men. Let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you please. But don't do anything to these men." Judges 19:23-24: "No, my brothers; do not be so wicked. Since this man is my guest, do not commit this crime. Rather let me bring out my maiden daughter or his concubine. Ravish them, or do whatever you want with them; but against the man you must not commit this wanton crime." Leviticus 18:22: "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; such a thing is an abomination." In the New Testament 1 Corinthians 6:9: "Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor homosexuals nor sodomites ... will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Timothy 1:10: "... law is meant not for a righteous person but for the lawless and unruly ... the unchaste, practicing homosexuals, kidnapers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is opposed to sound teaching." Romans 1:26-27: "Therefore, God handed them over to degrading passions. Their females exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the males likewise gave up natural relations with females and burned with lust for one another. Males did shameful things with males and thus received in their own persons the due penalty for their perversity." Q: You quoted 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10. How should these texts be understood? Father Edart: These two texts contain a list of vices presented as unacceptable for access to the kingdom of God. In 1 Corinthians, two Greek words make reference to homosexuality: "malakos," translated here as "homosexuals," and "arsenokoites," translated as "sodomites." These terms are very rare: "Malakos" appears only here in St. Paul, as for "arsenokoites," it is the first recurrence in the whole of Greek literature. "Malakos" means, literally, "gentle, silky, delicate." In a homosexual relationship, it designates the passive partner, but it can also refer to homosexual prostitutes or very effeminate men. The study of the meaning of "arsenokoites," and the clearly sexual context of the list of prohibitions invalidate these last two marginal interpretations. "Arsenokoites" means literally "to lie with a man." Formed by the association of two words present in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, it quite probably appeared in the Judeo-Hellenistic context. Rabbis used the Hebrew expression "lie with a man," taken from the Hebrew text of Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, to express the homosexual relationship. They did not limit it to pederasty. All these elements seem sufficient to us to affirm that the most plausible theory is that this term refers to men having the active role in relations of a homosexual nature. The meaning of "arsenokoites" allows one to limit the meaning of "malakos" to the passive partner in a homosexual relationship. Homosexual acts, therefore, are considered extremely grave, directly offending the divine Law. This teaching is perfectly consistent with Judaism of that time. No distinction is related to a question of sexual orientation, or of circumstances of the act, nor is it indicated. It is the act itself which is condemned. Q: And Romans 1:18-32? Father Edart: St. Paul presents acts of a homosexual nature in men as well as women as a consequence of God's wrath. Research was substantiated around the precise nature of this homosexuality and of the interpretation which that passage should be given.

The Apostle wished to illustrate the nature of the ungodliness. He used homosexuality for that, vice characteristic of pagans in the Jewish tradition. Based on the creation account in Genesis 1 and in Deuteronomy 4, he established the link between homosexuality and idolatry. In idolatry, man is dominated by the creature he adores, thus not rendering that corresponds only to the Creator. What takes place is an inversion of the initial, manifested divine plan, among other things, in the sexual difference. In the act of a homosexual nature, this differentiation is not taken into consideration. This is why it constitutes for Paul the best illustration possible of ungodliness. Another difficulty of interpretation of this text is the meaning of "against nature." In Roman culture, the adjective "natural" characterized acts in accord with social conventions. Thus in Greco-Roman culture, beyond the feminine-masculine structure -- masculine is the dominant relationship -- it governed who established the moral norm in a loving relationship.

The allusion to Genesis 1 in Romans 1:19-23 invites us to see in "nature" the order willed by God and identifiable in creation. That is translated, among other things, by the man-woman sexual difference, fundamental structure willed by God as expression of his being of communion. God willed the sexual union of man and woman, and this divine will, or divine Law, inscribed in nature is perceptible by reason. Man can observe this through all the elements that characterize sexual identity, genitalia being one of these signs. If we wish to take into consideration the Roman meaning of this term, we could say that the act against nature does not respect the social convention established by God in creation. The reference to Genesis 1 allows one to understand that this prohibition in no way is invalidated by questions of "tendencies" or orientation. It is every homosexual act in its materiality which is contrary to the divine will manifested in the beginning, whether imposed or consented. Attention to the literal sense of the New Testament texts shows clearly therefore that homosexual acts are considered as gravely contrary to the divine Law. It is important to understand that this negative moral qualification is the logical consequence of a more positive side. God willed to create man to be in alliance with him. This was manifested in the beginning in the sexual difference. The communion between man and woman is the first revelation of the love of God for man. The difference allows for the expression of a complementarity, thus making possible the gift of persons. The sexed body manifests this. The teaching of the Church is in perfect continuity with what Scripture says on this subject.

(all emphasis mine) (Hat Tip: The WebElf Report via Free Republic) For the Zenit link click here. For a previous posting titled: Homosexual Gene is an Abnormality, click here.

Irish #1!... in Binge Drinking

We all are aware of the stereotype of the Irish liking to fight and drink. So what if the mascot of the world famous University of Notre Dame is called the Fighting Irish. So what if we playfully pick on our favorite American ethnic group about their drinking habits. It seems to me that they are the ones that are more vocal than any other about their drinking 'prowess'. Well a recent Eurobarometer survey done in Europe (EU) interviewed EU nations to determine who are the heaviest drinkers. At it has been determined that the Irish are the worst offenders to binge drinking.
Ireland has the highest rates of binge-drinking in the European Union, a survey exploring attitudes to alcohol has indicated. ... Binge-drinking is a particular problem among young people, with almost a fifth of the 15-24 age group usually binge-drinking when consuming alcohol, according to the results of the survey on attitudes towards alcohol, presented by the European Commission on Thursday. ... The Catholic Church has added its voice to those warning of the dangers to society of alcohol abuse. ... In recent years there has been much concern about underage drinking on Irish streets on Saint Patrick's Day and some of the resulting problems, including violence, our correspondent says.
Seriously, binge drinking is not anything to be proud of. I'm not singling out the Irish per se, just that we've taken our Catholic holidays to the extreme that some of these holy days have become more banal than holy. We probably need to retake these days and emphasise the spiritual aspects of them. Like John Paul II said, we need to transform the world. What better way than celebrating the true nature of these holidays!. For the BBC World News report on this story click here. For the liberals trying to change St. Patrick's Day to Shamrock Day posting click here. For Fidei Defensors epic posting to begin his CVSTOS FIDEI blogging entry on St. Patrick's Day click here.
Thursday, March 15, 2007

Pope to Guiliani: Abortion 'Non-Negotiable'

Pope Benedict XVI issued a new document Tuesday saying that Catholic politicians have a "non-negotiable" duty to oppose practices like abortion and euthanasia. The pontiff also reaffirmed the Catholic Church's position that political leaders who endorse these anti-life practices should voluntarily refuse communion.
You hear that Rudy Guiliani? His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI is restating the words of Jesus that you must preserve the sanctity of life... at all costs. Mr. Guiliani you are three times divorced with little moral capital to show that makes Bill Clinton look like a saint. If you continue to say that you are a Catholic that loves the mother of God then you should renounce your stand that killing innocent unborn children. Mayor Guiliani do not forsake the kingdom of Heaven for the temporal power. As a Christian, Catholic specifically, you stake a claim as the bride of Christ in which we love Him with all our heart and all our soul. Defending the weak and defenseless.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you;

--The Book of the Prophecies of Jeremiah 1:5

Your exceptional leadership skills on 9/11 are greatly deserving of praise, but if you fail to defend the most defenseless and weak among you what then of your soul?

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.

--Holy Gospel of St. John 14:6

You're either a Christian or not. Don't be a hypocrite and be intolerant to the needs of the defenseless.
For the LifeNews.com article click here.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Fr. Euteneuer Cartoon

His celebrity is rising when a cartoon is done of him. I hope he continues being the faithful priest that he is.
Cartoon by Better in Latin guy Paul.
Sean Hannity putting his foot in his mouth has certainly put Christ's teachings into a better light. For the Sean Hannity foot-in-his-mouth fiasco click here.

Shamrock Day?

We've seen the liberals and secularists start turning Merry Christmas into Happy Holiday and now we have those Taliban-producing America-hating Northern Californians turning St. Patrick's Day into Shamrock Day. Handmaiden sent me the following email of a correspondence between a friend of her's from California and the local children's museum in Berkley, California. Here is the local children's museum response: "Thank you for your thoughtful questions about our upcoming Shamrock Day event. Our goal is to bring cultural diversity to our audience without broaching religious boundaries." "A number of modern day celebrations have their origins in religious holidays, but have become broadly celebrated by everyone. Halloween and Mardi Gras are prime examples, and to a large extent, so is St. Patrick's Day, though certainly for many Catholics it is a true holiday (holy day) with religious significance." "What we have tried to do at Habitot is focus on the non-religious elements of prominent celebrations with broad cultural meaning that everyone can learn from and appreciate, and avoid all particularly religious holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter or Ramadan as well as references to the religious origins of holidays. Norooz is a spring festival, not a religious one, for example." "I think you and your family will enjoy the Irish-inspired activities we have planned for Sharmrock Day. Celtic music will be played, Leprechauns and pots of gold will abound, green will be everywhere, and these elements can help children learn about Irish culture which is our main intent, and the reason the event is named Shamrock Day and not St. Patrick's Day." "That said, we are well aware that we need community voices like yours to advise us in our efforts to appropriately reflect diverse cultures in non-stereotypic ways, and to tell us when we haven't gotten it right!" "I'd like to invite you to join our *"Community Connections" *advisory..." etc. Here is the informational blurb about Shamrock Day: Shamrock Day The Shamrock Ceilidh Band will perform traditional Irish folk music from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm at Habitot Children's Museum's Shamrock Day celebration. There will be a hunt for hidden "gold" throughout the museum from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. In the museum's Art Studio, children can create and decorate their own green-lens glasses and print Shamrock Day cards with carved potatoes and other fun materials. Shamrock cookies and green punch will be provided at 3:00 pm. Saturday, March 17, 2007; 10:00 - 5:00 pm This FREE Admission Day is generously sponsored by Union Bank.
For this silly liberal link click here.
I had to Google Norooz to find out what it was so for more information about this Persian holiday click here.
Monday, March 12, 2007

Dear Catholic Blogosphere: No On Rudy Giuliani

We've seen the videos of Mayor Rudy Giuliani unequivocally endorsing the pro-choice/pro-abortion stance as well as his fondness for homosexual marriage. We've seen Republicans first, Catholic second or third like Sean Hannity fall into man-love with with Mayor Giuliani. We in the Catholic blogosphere who adhere to the teachings of Christ need to come together to oppose Mayor Giuliani. Why? The presidential election is only two years away. Well because Mayor Giuliani can wrap up the nomination before we even enter the primaries that's why. Why? There is still the Democratic Party to consider. Well, I haven't seen a strong pro-life candidate emerge from the party of death since John F. Kennedy, and that was almost 40 years ago. So what does that leave us? The new media has handed American Christians, especially Catholics, this opportunity to raise awareness at our disillusion with Rudolph Giuliani. We need to call-out those like Sean Hannity who's lust for power makes him no better than the Clinton's, and either help them to practice their faith or reveal them as charlatans. What next? Michelle Malkin selling her Catholic soul for the golden calf of the presidency? #1: We probably need to raise our voices in a unified opposition to Mayor Giuliani and show those like Sean Hannity that we are in this world, not of this world. #2: We need to find a viable option to Mayor Giuliani as in Senator Sam Brownback or Congressman Duncan Hunter (just to name a couple). What are we to do?. The National Catholic Register has an idea, click here. More on Rudolph Giuliani by LifeNews.com click here.
Sunday, March 11, 2007

Public Heretic #1

Sean Hannity has always been known of having a shallow faith in Catholicism, regardless of his protestations to the obvious. Many times in the past have I cringed any time he would talk about his faith because he was incorrect at times, not often, but obvious when he was. I've become less of a fan of Sean Hannity recently, especially when he castigates callers on his radio show for not supporting Mayor Rudy Giuliani because of his pro-abortion/pro-choice stance. Now we have seen more of the same of Mr. Hannity's heterodoxy, and I for one will not defend him no longer. Being a Christian, especially Catholic, does not begin and end in Sunday Mass. It is a way of life, our faith transcends our life to be a witness in the world. Not be of this world as Sean Hannity has clearly shown. We are Christians first before we are anything else. Whether it be Republican or Democrat, American or Mexican, our faith transcends our thoughts and our actions. Sean Hannity clearly believes himself to be a Republican first and a Christian second. It is obvious by Mr. Sean Hannity's blinding support for Mayor Rudy Giuliani, another Catholic In Name Only, that Mr. Hannity lust for power at all costs has compromised his faith in Jesus for temporal power.
Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. --Romans 6:16, 23
Recently Father Thomas Euteneuer wrote an article called Sean Hannity's Gospel in Human Life International where Fr. Euteneuer called out Sean Hannity for his promotion of birth control:
"then the repentance I would like to hear out of Sean Hannity's mouth is for his shameless—even scandalous—promotion of birth control."
Well Sean Hannity didn't like being called out on his false faith and here is the following clip where Fr. Euteneuer and Sean Hannity 'debating' on Hannity & Colmes: Towards the end of this video clip Father Euteneur was asked by Alan Colmes if he would deny Sean Hannity Communion and Father Euteneur said "I would". The look on Sean Hannity's face is sweet. (for the transcript click here) It doesn't matter what our political allegiances are or where we are born, it is practicing our faith in the world is our defining characteristic that distinguishes Christians from non-Christians. It isn't easy being a Christian, but the rewards of Heaven are certainly enough for this Catholic to practice my faith with love and sincerity in a world of rampant secularism and materialism. For Human Life International, pro-life missionaries to the world, click here. For the Sean Hannity's Gospel by Father Thomas Euteneur click here. To read Father Thomas Euteneur's blog, Spirit & Life, click here. To learn more about Father Thomas Euteneur click here. Catholic Blogosphere Reacts (condemns) Sean Hannity's False Christianity: My Domestic Church has an excellent posting on the logical fallacies, ergo, shouting techniques, of Sean Hannity click here. The Curt Jester sounds off here. For Gazizza.net posting click here. Amy Welborn sounds off in Open Book here. Esther at A Catholic Mom in Hawaii posts here. Gerald at The Cafeteria is Closed posts here.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007

New Blog: Recapturing Our Catholic Patrimony

My good friends Peter and Sarah have just started their new blog called Recapturing Our Catholic Patrimony, or RCP for short. It will primarily deal with the study group topics we all study together in the group of the same name, RCP. Tonight we covered the first six (6) chapters of Theresa of Avila's, 'The Way to Perfection'. A very good book on praying which we all sorely need to better build a structured prayer life.
It is a highly intellectual study group, but everyone is able to participate regardless of where you are in your faith. For the most part I just listen and contribute when I can. So for all my avid readers (all 2 or 3 of you), take a look at the Catholic blogosphere's newest blog!
To go to Recapturing Our Catholic Patrimony blog click here.
Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Lenten Meme

Thanks for the tag A Catholic Mom in Hawaii. 1. What is your favorite Sorrowful Mystery? The carrying of the Cross. Reminds me to not complain to much of my own problems, to be thankful, and especially to be joyful in carrying my own cross. 2. What is your favorite Station of the Cross? He meets His mother. Makes me think of how much my own mother worries for me. 3. Do you fast during Lent? Only on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the other Fridays. 4. What is your Lenten Resolution(s)? To eliminate my remaining vices such as chocolate, coca-cola, and sarcasm. 5. Do you use Holy Water during Lent? No, not really. How do you use Holy Water for Lent anyways? (Just curious) 6. How many times do you go to Mass during Lent? Every day. I tag Bill, Alan, Christina, Dad29, and Karen.
Monday, March 5, 2007

St. Dorothy Day

St. Dorothy Day preached absolute pacifism and complete adherence to voluntary poverty in pursuit of the ultimate goal of helping the unfortunate in society at all costs. Let it be said, so let it be done. For the Holy Magisterium of Evangelical Catholicism has deemed it so. His Most Holy Superior Archpatriarch Michael Joseph the all knowing has proclaimed it to be. Let us ignorant and uninformed Catholics who are not worthy of this hidden knowledge publicly and blindly accept it since His Most Holy Superior to us all Archpatriarch Michael Joseph says its so. This hidden knowledge is only known to his Superior Holiness Archpatriarch Michael Joseph and the Holy BrotherSisterhood of the most Holy Catholic Worker Movement and Evangelical Catholicism Readers.

Let all Catholics publicly venerate the most saintly and holy St. Dorothy Day of New York.

Let it be said that the most saintly and holy St. Dorothy Day of New York is in Heaven.

Let those that disagree with us be outlandish, bluffing, baseless, totally lacking in knowledge, ridiculous, petty, lamentably ignorant, have no idea, uninformed, emotional, irrational, unreasonable, with grave error, uncharitable, hypocrite, and anathema.

Evangelical Catholicism insists on Dorothy Day being publicly venerated as a saint, that she is a Saint to begin with, and that she is in Heaven. The last paragraph in blue are the comments that Michael Joseph and his readers have thrown at me when I asked the simple question, "Is Dorothy Day a Saint?"

Last I knew that the Catholic Church does not allow for public veneration of non-Saints, that Dorothy Day is not a Saint (yet), and only God knows who is in heaven and who is not.

To read Evangelical Catholicism's diatribes towards me click here.

300: Is President Bush King Leonidas?

That is the debate that has been sparked by many in the media, ipso facto, the liberals for all intents and purposes.
It seems that liberals are painting our current President Bush as Emperor Xerxes who is out to avenge his fathers failure in defeating the Greeks. Others claim President Bush is King Leonidas, the defender of Western Civilization.
I never put any thought to this until I read this article this morning (from none other than the liberal New York Times). Nonetheless, I know my history of the Battle of Thermopylae and I don't care to make comparisons.
The fact is that 300 Spartans, representing Western Civlization, with superior technology, superior tactics, superior morals, and superior men, defeated the million strong Persian Empire which represents the Muslim's of today.
Even though We lost, King Leonidas bought enough time for the Greek forces, ie, Western Civilization, to mount an incredible naval upset of a small Greek navy over the much larger Persian navy at the monumental Battle of Salamis (later the Greek army defeated the Persian remnant at the Battle of Plataea which secured Greek victory).
Today we should remember King Leonidas, though a pagan, represented the imperfect western man at his finest. Not until the coming of Christ would western man and the rest of humanity be able to seek perfection by the Way and the Light of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Hat Tip: Drudge Report)
For my comments on 300 the movie click here.
For the full liberal New York Times article click here.
To learn more about the Battle of Salamis click here.
To learn more about the Battle of Plataea click here.
UPDATED: Matthew Sheffield at NewsBusters has his say here.
Sunday, March 4, 2007

Nunsurgence

I've been aware of the resurgence of vocations for women religious and have found a nice YouTube clip that shows this. Unfortunately, Matt Lauer doesn't ask the right questions or any at all as to why many young women are discerning the contemplative life. (Hat Tip: The Lair of the Catholic Cavemen).

Off the Record of Catholic World News has an excellent posting on the cloistered life.

Rudy Giuliani Supports Killing Babies

I am pretty much fed up with all this Rudy Guiliani talk. Sean Hannity on his radio show can't stop himself from falling in love with this agent of death. I like Sean Hannity but his lust for power is disgusting, just goes to show that he is probably a Catholic in name only (CINO) like his hero Guiliani. Yeah Mr. Guiliani is a great leader when under fire, but outside that, he is willing to send innocent children to their death. Are Republicans willing to sell their soul to the devil for power? I believe so. If Rudolph Guiliani is the next President of the United States (POTUS), he will probably appoint another Souter to the Supreme Court and that will spell disaster for the conservative cause, specifically the entire practicing Christian caucus that supports the Republicans. It would probably split the GOP and create a third party which would all but guarantee abortion on demand and government control of our lives as Dorothy Day advocates want. I for one would join these Republican Christians and spite those like Sean Hannity who want to hold the Executive branch at all costs, even at the expense of selling their souls. Rudolph Guiliani is NO FRIEND of unborn innocent children. He has got to be stopped and stopped now. Mr. Guiliani has no character evident in abandoning his last two wives and is willing to sleep with the devil in order to advance his political advantage. Mr. Guiliani must either renounce his pro-abortion/pro-choice stance and protect the unborn innocent children or he should leave his Catholic faith for the altar to the golden calf of power and abomination. Good riddance to Mr. Rudolph Giuliani, 9/11 or no 9/11, he is an apostate in action if not formally.
Saturday, March 3, 2007

Two America's

The liberals and Dorothy Day Catholics believe that two America's do exist. I to feel the same way. Except my view of 'Two America's' is based on faith and fact, while the other 'version' is based on emotion and irrationality. Two America's exist because of the moral divide that has occurred here in the United States. A recent Cybercast News Service (CNS) has a great article on this topic.

"It's been said that there are two Americas, and what I'd argue is that if there are two Americas, we're not divided economically, we're divided morally," Wendy Wright, president of the group Concerned Women for America, said during a panel discussion entitled "Beyond Our Pocketbooks: Social Issues and the Conservative Movement." On one side, Wright noted, "we have hedonistic Hollywood that imposes their sense of indulgence that the only life worth living is one that indulges itself." "We have the entire Planned Parenthood mentality that says other human beings should be used for your own sexual pleasure, and if someone else is a burden to you, if they are unwanted, then simply eliminate them, abort them," she told the gathering." And then, we have the other America that respects morality, that wants to end pornography in our society because it uses women and children as objects for other people's pleasure," Wright said. That side of America "wants to put an end to the killing of little human beings who have been designated as less than human" because "of where they are located -- inside a woman -- or because of how small they are, or because they don't yet look like you and I do," she added. "This is also the moral America that wants to protect marriage because we recognize that marriage is the distinct union between a man and a woman, and it is the foundation to a stable society."

(...)

On Thursday, syndicated columnist Ben Shapiro agreed with Wright's description. One reason for the moral division in America, he said, is what the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan called "defining deviancy down" because "when society tolerates deviance, it propagates deviance." Moynihan used the example of single motherhood, Shapiro said, which "used to be taboo, then it reached a rate at which we decided that we were going to recognize it as normal and legitimate." "When that happened, it skyrocketed," and now, 40 percent of children born in the United States are born out of wedlock, he noted. "The rise in homosexuality, abortion, single motherhood and pornography is just plain bad," Shapiro said. "Common sense used to tell us these things were bad, but common sense is dying." "Now, we have to have social scientists prove to us that chopping off your own leg hurts your self-esteem and therefore is bad before we decide that we're against self-mutilation," he stated. "Social liberals don't pretend to know right from wrong, or even to care," he said. "They simply claim they have a right to act as they please as long as they're not physically harming you." He described this as a "phantom" right - one that is never explained but "just spring up anonymously, magically." "Conservatives understand, by contrast, that rights are granted to us by our Creator to enrich human existence," he said. As a result, "conservatism is not about standing idle in the face of immorality. It never has been. Slavery didn't hurt white Northerners physically, but they sure had a right to destroy the institution."

(...)

"We've got one party fiercely dedicated to the most radical stances on abortion, homosexual activism and expanding the public square while shrinking the freedoms of tradition-minded Americans," he said. "And they've got the media squarely in their corner, defining the issues in a way that makes the opposition seem mean, churlish, even evil." "The other party doesn't seem to acknowledge or understand the interrelationship between the social and economic issues," he continued. "They think they can do one without the other." As a result, social conservatives "have to talk about these issues a lot to make sure they are the mainstream issues they really are," Knight stated. Also, "we have to talk to the conservative Democrats who were elected the last time around and who stood for family values allegedly and make sure they're doing this in Congress. "Finally, we have to confront candidates in both parties and ask them where they stand on these issues," he said. Wright cautioned against accepting political leaders' rhetoric at face value.

"We have to watch out now for politicians who are giving lip service but are promoting policies that accommodate the immoral lifestyles, the immoral America," she said. "Our challenge is to dig deeper, dig past the slogans, past the titles of laws" to determine if they are "promoting policies that protect human life, that respect life, that honor God. Or are they simply trying to fool us?" Knight also defended the need to focus on and discuss moral issues even during the ongoing struggle against terrorism. "If the social liberals have their way and say the profoundly important cultural issues are no longer on the table because we're fighting this war overseas, I think they are seriously deluded," he stated

(all emphasis mine)

Pretty good stuff. (Hat Tip: LifeSite.net) To read the complete CNS article click here.
Friday, March 2, 2007

Into Great Silence

A film with no narration and soundtrack. Simply silence. The film is about the Carthusian monastery, Le Grande Chartreuse, located in the Swiss Alps. I've finally found this trailer in which my original posting, YouTube had yet to surface on the web. I'm trying to find more information when it will be showing in the United States. It packed theaters in Germany and was a sensation all over Europe. The film is nearly three (3) hours long and any chanting is done in either Latin or French.
For the website of Into Great Silence click here. For more information click here. For my original posting of this film click here.

300

Before Christ, there was chaos.

From that chaos arose philosophy, art, and democracy emanating from Greek thought.

Philosophy to understand the deeper meaning of life. Art to appreciate that deeper meaning of life. Democracy to allow the people to engage in this deeper meaning of life.

This was the fertile soil called Western Civilization where Jesus walked and preached in Anno Domini 33.

Prior to His arrival, there was still anarchy in the pre-Christian world. A world that was bloodthirsty, unsympathetic, uncaring, ruthless, merciless, and without God.

A world where man was the center of the universe, selfishness ruled. With no God there was no love nor life, simply death.

Emperor Xerxes ruled most of the world known to western man at the time. His Persian Empire lorded over from the Indus Valley southwest to Egypt and northwest to the Greek frontier. His armies crushed anyone in his path. Emperor Xerxes eliminated entire cities, enslaved women and children, and put to death all surviving men in his wake. His dominion was lusting for more power and the Greeks were standing in his path to man made glory.

The very same Greeks that produced Socrates who philosophized that "Wait! Wait for a wise man who is to come, who will tell us how we are to conduct ourselves before God and man." These very same Greeks that produced Plato's Republic and the idea of democracy and the beautiful architecture of Athens.

These Greeks represented the only civilized remnant of humanity left to conquer by Emperor Xerxes and the Persians.

What prevented them from being conquered and destroyed? They were technologically advanced, disciplined, confident, sophisticated in thought, but small in numbers and even worse, disunited.

In 480 Before Christ (BC) Emperor Xerxes brought his great million man army (classical sources claim more, so we'll use conservative numbers here) across the Aegean and began marching on the disunited Greeks. Xerxes and his Persians needed to walk through the narrow pass at Thermopylae before entering the open plain and the rest of Greece to overrun.

Desperate to prevent their destruction, the Athenians and the Spartans put aside their hostilities to provide a united front for all of Greece. The Spartans were known for their minimalist way of living, or rather Spartan way of living (where the term arrives from) and their warrior ethic. A common Spartan wives tale told to their husbands when heading off to war was "come home with your shield or on it".

All of Greece were well aware of the Spartan prowess on the battlefield and if Sparta marched towards Xerxes and his Persians, then all of Greece would rally around the Spartans to face the million man army of Xerxes. Unfortunately the Persian war machine was marching towards Thermopylae during the Greek holy festival called the Olympic Games, which in Spartan tradition meant abstaining from warfare during this time. The ever pious Spartans would not send their army, but only 300 men, Spartans all of them led by King Leonidas.

On September 17, 480 BC 300 Spartans and Leonidas engaged the million man Persian army at the narrow pass in Thermopylae while Xerxes watched from a distance. This battle became the greatest last stand in the history of humanity. Greater than the Alamo, Verdun, and Puebla.

For a couple of days the Spartans not only held back the Persians, they even went on the offensive and were able to pull off commando raids at night. So confidant were the Spartans, they could be seen during the intermission of warfare sitting out in the open field, sharpening their swords and grooming their beards to mock the Persians. One Persian emissary told Leonidas to surrender or die under the onslaught of a million arrows that would block out the rays of the sun. King Leonidas rebuffed him by saying, "then we'll fight under the shade". Another time the Persian emissary asked for the surrender of their weapons in which Leonidas replied, "come and get them from our cold, dead hands".

Ironically, the Spartans did not lose because of overwhelming Persian strength, but from a Greek traitor who told Xerxes a secret shortcut to surround the Spartans. On that day the Spartans died to the very last man. Each time the Persians asked for their surrender and each time the Spartans replied by rushing their enemies.

All of Greece were in awe of Spartan bravery and resistance at this great act of sacrifice. This sacrifice bought enough time for the Athenian navy to destroy the Persian fleet at Salamis which also became the greatest rout of a small force over a larger force. Later Xerxes returned to Persia leaving behind a smaller army to finish off the Spartans and the rest of the Greeks, fortunately for us living today, the united Greek forces defeated the Persian army at the battle of Plataea.

Greece was free.

Philosophy, art, and democracy were able to grow and flourish and prepare for Christs Kingdom.

Post-Mortem: I've viewed the original movie titled 300 Spartans and it is true to the history, but not so good script and cinematography. Fortunately Hollywood remade the movie based on a graphic novel of this history aptly titled 300. The trailer is amazing and I am certainly waiting to watch this myself.

Warning: Parts of the trailer shows sexual deviancy.

To learn more about the pre-Christian world click here and here.

To learn more about the Battle of Thermopylae click here and here.

To learn more about the original movie, 300 Spartans, click here.

To learn more about the new movie, 300, click here.

UPDATED: HotAir has 15 minutes of new footage of 300. For the video click here.

Nancy Pelois and Slaves

Most Catholics understand that if you practice your faith it is a part of your life, it doesn't begin and end at Sunday Mass. Practicing your faith involves it being transcendent in ever action you take as a Catholic. The Catholic faith teaches in the sanctity of life, above and beyond any other social justice issue. Some politicians forget (or don't want to be reminded of) the great St. Thomas More who lost his head because he wouldn't give his blessing to King Henry VIII's divorce and then marriage to the tartly and pregnant Anne Boleyn. St. Thomas More was the Lord Chancellor of England and his Christian, ie Catholic, principles, values, and conscious prevented him from giving his nod towards his friend King Henry VIII.
How times have changed when we have nonpracticing Catholics such as Mario Cuomo, Rudy Giuliani, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, Joseph Biden, and Nancy Pelosi.
Speaker of the House liberal Democrat Nancy Pelosi claims to be pro-life but still advocating for the murder of innocent unborn children with the following statement:
"If you don't want an abortion, you don't believe in it, [then] don't have one."
So using her handy-dandy Nancy Pelosi Logic then if you don't want slavery, you don't believe in it, then don't have one. Well, I guess we wouldn't have had the Civil War after all. Madame Speaker Nancy Pelosi is a fallen and depraved Catholic with no moral compass whatsoever.

What's Wrong With Hip Hop?

...besides the violence, misogyny, vulgarity, nudity, irresponsibility, adultery, sodomy, calumny, blasphemy, illiteracy, depravity, licentiousness, faithlessness, divisiveness, diction, degradation, provocation, distortion, stereotyping, and sex.
Nothing at all.
Thank goodness things may be changing.
For a secular point of view click here.

Christian Names

Words and symbols carry great weight in our judeo-christian culture, specifically Catholics more so than others. From the way we worship and pray to what we say and how we name our children. And naming our children is a tremendous responsibility for those that take their faith seriously. Yes a child creates and grows into his or her identity, but to some extent the name itself helps form the child, especially if there is meaning. Meaning that has depth and history behind it. Many parents take great care in naming their children and I believe this is based on certain motives behind the parents decision making. There is a reason for the names given to their children. Unfortunately some parents don't take their charge in naming their offspring seriously enough nor understand how the names of children do have to some degree an affect on children. To the point, these past many years I have seen more than a few parents give generic, inanimate, gender-neutral, or gender-opposite names to their children. I grew up thinking the name 'Ashely' was a girls name. To my surprise it was originally a boys name. I've also seen creativity in the naming of children such as Jennifer being spelled Ginnafur or Susan being spelled Zusen. I agree each child should have their own identity, but the name helps form that identity not necessarily to be the identity. The originality of that name is unique, but what else is there beyond that? What about good Christian names such as Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John? How about David, Elijah, and Moses for you Old Testament fans. Saints and angels such as Thomas Aquinas, Augustine, Theresa or Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Each name is unique that carries with it a long and rich history behind it that can only lend itself to a positive reinforcement of Catholic, Protestant, and/or Jewish values to a growing child. I'll take Robert, Esther, and Mary over Macy, Brittany, McKenzie, Apple, Moon Unit, and Summer any day of my life. For another review on this topic by New Oxford Review click here.
Thursday, March 1, 2007

The Hatred of Christianity by Liberals

A new book by Chris Hedges is becoming a national best seller. In it, it describes an inscrupuleous attempt of a subsersive form of Christianity that is looking to take over the U.S. government and install a theocracy. It's pretty comical. I've only skimmed the book, but this is becoming a common theme among liberals that Christians are a fifth column looking to take over America. Even though it references mostly prominent Protestants, we see that liberals equally loathe all of Christianity when books like this become best sellers.
(Hat Tip: Hot Air)

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